St. Paul daily globe., 1887-08-15
PROFESSIONAL SPIES.
One of the Callings that Was Con-
sidered Infamous by the An
CientS.

clients.
London Tid Bits.
Although the changes wrought by
time and social progress have elevated
into reSpectability many professions
ancientIy regarded as Infamous and
converted into mere baselesS prejudices
objections once by no means without
foundation, some are still honestly and
whOleSOmely detested.
That of a spy, for instance. InvOlv-
ing ideas of deceit, lying and treachery,
with which it is but too often associ-
ated, it is at best tolerated as diSa-
greeabIe necessity. No man or woman
likes to be called spy, and to be re-
garded as professional spy is to be
Infamous all the world over.
The purpose of the spy is not that of
the detective only, who is secret and
watchful, but not necessarily treacher-
Gus. A genuine spy makes it his heart
less and cruel business to win confidence
only to betray ito enjoy hospitality
as guest that he may bring down ruin
upon his host and misery upon his fam
lily. He processes friendship to those he
is anxious to disgrace, and affection
where his only intentions are those of
cOld-blOOded malignity. What could be
more vile or base?
And yet spies of the very worst type
have existed in all classes of society and
in all times. In Russia to this day there
are men and women of the highest rank
who are not ashamed to act as spies. Sc
cretly engaged by the chiefs of police,
and others who do such dirty work as
amateurs merely to serve political ends,
those of the government or those of the
NII IaI
While the BOurbOnS were ON the
French throne, and all through the
reigns of Napoleon the Great and Napo
leon the Little, spies abounded. In Aus
tria they were for many years not less
abundant, and also in Italy. Nor are
these hateful pests to be found only in
their own country. They travel to
other lands in pursuit of their victims,
plotting and scheming to get them
within their craftily created tolls. Even
their employers regard them with sus-
picion. and those they most benefit are
often those who regard them with the
greatest contempt and disgust. In the
reign of Louis XVIII. the Due Decazes
was once attacked, as head of the Paris
ian police, by member of the chamber
of deputies, who pointed out as dis
graceful to his department and their
ltlC VIC Cildl dCICIS llt CIl-
ployed as spies for detecting crimes.
The due replied sarcaStically: "Show
me the honest men who will undertake
their duties, and promise to employ
them!" The retOrt was a cruSher. to
which the deputy had no reply, for
spies were then regarded as absolute
state necessities.
During the last French empire you
could not venture even in any private
assembly and utter safely any political
opinion If they chanced to be antago-
nistic to the government, and it is said
that this policy was but continuance
of that adopted during the latter part of
the reign of King Louis Philippe, when
a complete network of espionage sur
rounded every social circle and had its
representative in almost every home.
1t was said that no reunion. private or
public, composed of more than GER
tain number of people, ever took place
i'm Paris without the cOgniZanee and
surveillance of the police. No matter.
what the rank or position OF the giyef'
of feast might be, he was commanded
to forward a certain number of tickets
to the prefecture for guests who were
sure to arrive, courteous i'll manner.
fashionable i'll dress and apparently.
highly educated and very agreeable
men and women of the highest respect
ability, but spies every oEe.